Skirt



(No Model.)

M. G. HARTMAN.

SKIRT.

No. 586,033. Patented Ju1y6,189\7.

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UNITED STATES PATENT UEErCE..

MARIA C. I-IARTMAN, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWYARE.

SKIRT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,033, dated July 6,1897.

VApplication filed January 2, 1897.

To @ZZ whom t may concern. l

Be it known that I, MARIA C. HAETMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vilmington, in the county of Newcastle and State ofDelawareJ have invented a new and useful Improvement in Skirts; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which-Figure I is a side View, and Fig. II is a rear view, of a skirtaccording to my invention.

This invention relates to that class of skirts which are worn under thedress and over the petticoat by ladies for the purpose of supporting thedress-skirt according to the prevailing style; and its object is to soconstruct a skirt that it shall be self-supporting in a projecting form,as though it were supportedV by a bustle, and so that it shall,furthermore, be able to support in that form a dress worn over it.

To this end my invention consists inthe construction and combination ofparts forming a skirt hereinafter more fully described, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

5 represents the body of the skirt. This may be made of any suitablematerial, preferably hair-cloth or some kind of fabric having about thestiffness of hair-cloth.

The skirt-body is to be out to lit over the hips and the back of thewearer and hang to within a few inches of the ground in such a manner asto give the desired form toa dress worn over it, the upper portion ofthe skirt across the back and just below the waist projecting as thoughit were supported by a bustle. The skirt may have a placket 6,permitting it to be opened at the waist for putting on and taking off,and when adjusted ready for Wear the placket may be held closed in anyusual manner, such as by a button 7,l

8 represents one or more hoops, preferably of thin elastic steel coveredwith fabric, such springs being for sale on the market. t These hoopsare to pass around the skirt-body 5 near the bottom and be permanentlysecured thereto by sewing all the Way around.

9 represents one or more segmental springs, of the same material as thehoops, extending from side to side around the back of the skirt andsecured permanently thereto.

serai No. 617,779. (No model.)

10 represents one or more springs of the same hoop material, eachextending up one side of the skirt, across the back, where they arearched to support the projecting portion ll, and down the other side toand across the hoops 8 and closely sewed along the front edge of each tothe skirt-body and rimly secured to the hoops 8 and to the endsI of thesegmental spring 9. The hoops 8 normally distend the skirt to a circularform in the lower region and serve to distend a dress Worn over theskirt, While the dress, being of much greater circumference than theskirt, assumes graceful folds and ripples in walking, standing, orsitting. The hoops are not stiff enough to rigidly maintain a circularform under a heavy dress, as that would detract from the richness of theappearance of Woolen dresses; but by the aid of the skirt supportingthem and of the downward extensions of the arched springs l0 the hoopskeep the dress out of the way of the Wearers feet and yet permit it tohang gracefully.

The bustle-springs l() stand in the form of elliptical arches, and beingsecured all the Way to the skirt midway and nearly vertically down thesides thereof, and remaining untwisted because of their rear edges beingfree, 4the side portions normally support the central portion of thearches fully distended, and with one edge free they are so iexible asnot to be felt when leaned against, yet their mechanical position inrelation to the other parts enables very light springs to properlysupporta dress worn over such a skirt. These springs -lO are securedonly at the forward edge of each to the skirt-body, because if the otheredge were sewed down closely the elasticity of the spring would beimpaired by twisting it edgewise to the plane of motion.

The segmental springs` 9, secured at their` ends to the springs 10,operate with more effect in holding out the heavy back folds of a dress.The springs l0 arch upward so high asnot to interfere with the sittingdown of the wearer, and their peculiar standing position permits them toswing freely toward the Wearers back, so as not to be felt when pressedagainst a chair-back, thus permitting natural movements with entire easeto the wearer. The hoops are on the outside of the skirt and IOO ` suitthe most fastidious taste.

cannot be caught either in the front or rear by the Wearers shoes.

While this skirt is very light, simple, and inexpensive, it serves allthe purposes of both a bustle and hoop-skirt, and all its advantages maybe maintained when made of silk and ornamented with f'lounces, ruflies,or lace to It is so simple that it may be made without machinework, andthe proportions and location of the fulled parts may be changed by thedressmaker to meet the prevailing fashion or to suit individual taste.This skirt does not cause the dress to swing objectionably in walking,and it does not puff the dress forward in sitting down.

Simplicity, ease, grace, and elegance are the characteristics developedin the hang of a dress Worn over this skirt.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I believe to be new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. .A skirt comprising a body of flexible fabric,having a projectingportion near the waist; elastic hoopsaround and secured to the body nearits lower end, and springs arched at the projecting portion andextending nearly vertically down the sides of the skirt and across neartheir ends to the nearly vertical springs,

substantially as described.

3. A skirt comprising abody of flexible fabric having a projectingportion near the waist, and narrow flat springs arched at the projectingportion and extending down the sides of the skirt and secured along oneedge of each spring to the skirt, the other edge being free,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARIA C. HARTMAN.

Vitnesses:

SAMUEL D. FORBES, THOMAS R. LALLY.

